A 4-Week Online Course with Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan

Deity

A Path of Liberation

Now On-Demand

Course Description

In this 4-part course, we will explore the principles of working with a deity. This course is designed for anyone interested in gaining a fundamental understanding of systematically approaching a deity in the non-dual Tāntrik tradition.

In this course, we will examine bhakti with a focus on Gaṇapatī, the elephant headed God. Each module will deal with a particular way of engaging with Gaṇapatī, bringing together the various techniques of yoga and tantra. We will then bring it all together for a holistic understanding of bhakti and how it brings us to an intimate relationship with ourselves and life.

COURSE INCLUDES:

Course Outline

Module 1 will lay the foundation for the rest of the course. What is Bhakti? We will explore Bhakti from the standpoint of dualistic and non-dual paths. We will examine the stages of progression of bhakti from a dualistic perspective to a non-dual one.

Having explored bhakti in the previous module, we will now delve into its elements. How can we engage with a deity through ritual or pūjā? What are the elements of ritual? What is the significance of each element? How must we approach the deity through each element?

In module 3, we will explore the role of language in bhakti. What is mantra? How does it connect us to the deity via bhakti? How does language correlate with the levels of consciousness? How do we practice with mantra?

In this final module, we will examine bhakti from the standpoint of discernment and reasoning. What is self- inquiry? How does devotion relate to self-inquiry and reasoning? What is the highest form of practice and who is entitled to it? These are some of the concepts we will explore here.

Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan is a Cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, MI. She is an initiate in the Tāntrik lineages of Śrī Vidyā and Non-dual Śaiva Tantra (also known as Kashmir Śaivisim) and has studied Advaita Vedānta, Ayurveda, and Yoga with teachers across the globe. Her workshops, courses and writings on meditation, Yoga, Tantra, Ayurveda and non-duality strive to bring these time-honored traditions to modern living in practical ways. She is the author of The Heart of Wellness (Llewellyn Publications, January 2018), Shakti Rising (New Harbinger Publications, October 2017), which won the Nautilus Gold Award for Best Books of 2017 and Glorious Alchemy: Living the Lalitā Sahasranāma (New Sarum Press, UK, January 2020).